In natural language, we tend to think of a “church” being one and whole, an organization and belief system shared by those who belong to it. A “congregation” refers more to those people who belong to the church: unique individuals with their own hearts and minds, united by a shared love and belief.
The spiritual meaning Swedenborg offers for “congregation” reflects the same distinction, referring to the many individual beliefs and ideas which spring from the central belief that defines the church. These are the specific thoughts we can apply to life to bring love into action in all the small moments of our activities.
Passages from Swedenborg
Arcana Coelestia (Elliott) n. 6232
6232. And I will make you into a congregation of peoples’ means an increase without limit. This is clear from the meaning of ‘a congregation of peoples’ as truths from good without limit; for ‘peoples’ means truths, 1259, 1260, 3295, and ‘a congregation an abundance. Consequently ‘making into a congregation of peoples’ means causing truths to increase abundantly. That increase is without limit for the reason that all things in the spiritual world, which spring from the Infinite, as truths and forms of good do, are capable of unending multiplication and increase.
Arcana Coelestia (Elliott) n. 6355
6355. ‘In their congregation let not my glory be united’ means that neither does the truth of spiritual good have any wish to know the resulting false ideas constituting their thought. This is clear from the representation of Israel as spiritual good, dealt with in 6340; from the meaning of ‘in their congregation let it not be united’ as having no wish to be joined to the false ideas constituting their thought or thus to know them (false ideas constituting a person’s thought are meant by ‘congregation’, for ‘a congregation’, like ‘a multitude’, is used with reference to truths, and in the contrary sense to falsities); and from the meaning of ‘glory’, which is used with reference to truth, dealt with in 4809, 5922, for to those who cherish spiritual good truth is glory.
Arcana Coelestia (Elliott) n. 7843
7843. ‘And all the congregation of the assembly of Israel shall slaughter it’ means preparation for enjoyment by all in general belonging to the spiritual Church. This is clear from the meaning of ‘slaughtering’, when used in reference to the lamb or the she-goat for keeping the Passover, as preparation for enjoyment, the enjoyment of the good of innocence meant by the lamb and the she-goat; and from the meaning of ‘all the congregation of the assembly of Israel’ as by all in general belonging to the spiritual Church, dealt with above in 7830. ‘The congregation of the assembly’ means the truths of good which those belonging to that Church possess; for ‘congregation’ is used with reference to truth, 6355, and ‘assembly’ with reference to good.